Adverbs of Degree

Aprende como usar “Adverbs of Degree” en inglés aquí:

In English we use adverbs to modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. The common types are adverbs of degree, frequency, place, time, and manner. Adverbs are most commonly made by adding –ly to the end of an adjective, though there are plenty of exceptions.

Adverbs of degree are used to describe the “degree” of a verb or adjective, and clarify the intensity by emphasizing it (increasing degree) or understating it (reducing degree).

We all know that plants require sunlight to grow, but maybe not for much longer.

The Japanese have a bit of an obsession with perfect fruit. You might have seen the headlines in May when Dole Japan announced it would sell their fancy bananas for $6 each. Dole developed these “perfect” bananas by selecting the best qualities from over 100 bananas and growing them 500 meters above sea level. Another Japanese fruit company, Toyoka Chuo Seika ripens bananas to the sound of Mozart, which apparently results in a sweeter final fruit. Tokyo has a luxury fruit boutique that sells strawberries for $3 a piece, and square watermelons for $212.

The most recent news in Japanese agriculture has branched out a bit from expensive luxury fruits to sustainable indoor vegetable factories. No, this isn’t a greenhouse; this is an indoor facility that grows vegetables without any sunlight.

Instead of harvesting the natural energy of the sun, Japanese plant physiologist Shigeharu Shimamura teamed up with GE to create an indoor plant-growing facility that uses specialized LED lights that emit wavelengths optimal for plant growth. The LED lights are probably the most important part of the farm’s magic. Shimamura controls the night-and-day cycle, and says, “We want to achieve the best combination of photosynthesis during the day and breathing at night by controlling the lighting and the environment.”

The benefits of growing vegetables in an indoor facility are many. Their initial motivation was born out of a desire to do something about the food shortage in the Miyagi Prefecture following the earthquake and Tsunamis of 2011. Shimamura found an old Sony Corporation semiconductor facility and converted it to the indoor farm. It is about 25,000 square feet, or almost half the size of an American football field. This small farm is already producing 10,000 heads of lettuce a day, without any interruptions by pests, viruses, or pollen, or the use of pesticides.

While an indoor vegetable farm is definitely one way to avoid a freak summer storm or a really bad drought, Shimamura says the vegetables themselves are healthier. They’re packed with more vitamins and minerals because of their growth cycle, and without soil cultivation, the risk of contamination by E. coli and Salmonella is practically nonexistent. Additionally, since 90% of the plant is cultivated for consumption, the food waste is reduced significantly. With the complete control of temperature, humidity, and irrigation, the farm uses just one percent of the water used by field farms. Considering these benefits, Shimamura estimates the indoor facility is 100 times more productive than a standard outdoor farm.

With better irrigation, higher productivity, and protection from pests and the elements, indoor gardens, farms, and vegetable factories might be a future we can all expect in the next few years. Shimamura is prophetic with the name of his company, Mirai, which means “future” in Japanese. Is the “future” of agriculture realistic? Is it better? Only time will tell.

Reading Comprehension

Time limit: 0

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Questions:

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2. Question

Based on context, what do you think the phrase “the elements” refers to?

Pests

Water

Pollen

Weather

Correct

“The elements” is a phrase used to refer to the weather elements, such as sunshine, storms, cloud coverage, visibility, humidity, etc.

Incorrect

“The elements” is a phrase used to refer to the weather elements, such as sunshine, storms, cloud coverage, visibility, humidity, etc.

Question 3 of 7

3. Question

1 points

Select all that apply: According to the article, what are the benefits of growing vegetables in an indoor facility?

They get more minerals from soil cultivation

Protection from pests and diseases

The indoor irrigation saves water

Optimal conditions can be created for photosynthesis and photorespiration

Correct

The correct answers are 2. Protection from pests and diseases, 3. The indoor irrigation saves water, 4. Optimal conditions can be created for photosynthesis and photorespiration

Incorrect

The correct answers are 2. Protection from pests and diseases, 3. The indoor irrigation saves water, 4. Optimal conditions can be created for photosynthesis and photorespiration

Question 4 of 7

4. Question

4 points

Match the word to its definition.

Sort elements

Agriculture

Nonexistent

Humidity

Practically

The science or practice of farming

Adjective meaning not real or present

The indoor or outdoor situation in which there is moisture in the air; the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

Adverb meaning almost

Correct 4 / 4 Points

Incorrect / 4 Points

Question 5 of 7

5. Question

1 points

Fill in the blank with the appropriate adverb of degree from the choices: enough, too, very

I’m (too) tired to watch a movie tonight.

Correct

The correct answer is: I’m too tired to watch a movie tonight.

Incorrect

The correct answer is: I’m too tired to watch a movie tonight.

Question 6 of 7

6. Question

1 points

Place the adverb of degree in the appropriate place: I was exhausted from the 14-hour flight. (completely)

(I was completely exhausted from the 14-hour flight.)

Correct

Correct answer: I was completely exhausted from the 14-hour flight.

Incorrect

Correct answer: I was completely exhausted from the 14-hour flight.

Question 7 of 7

7. Question

1 points

In the following sentence is the adverb increasing or decreasing the degree of the adjective skinny? Janice is extremely skinny for a pregnant woman!

Correct

Correct answer: increasing – extremely shows that Janice is much SKINNIER than the average pregnant woman.

Incorrect

Correct answer: increasing – extremely shows that Janice is much SKINNIER than the average pregnant woman.

Writing

INTERMEDIATE: In 200 words, mention each of the benefits of this indoor farm, according to the article, and give your opinion. Write whether it is good or bad for Japan, the world, or your country, and how it might help or hurt.

ADVANCED: Explain how you believe agriculture, international trade, or your home meals might change as a result of worldwide indoor vegetables farms.